James Pearce Highlights Konate’s Commanding Response in Milan
Liverpool’s win over Inter Milan should have generated headlines for defensive resilience rather than off-field noise, yet amid the fallout from recent controversies, James Pearce ensured attention returned to the pitch. His assessment of Ibrahima Konate’s display captured a night that may prove significant for a player who has endured heavy scrutiny this season.
Konate’s campaign has been punctuated by costly errors and high-profile critiques, most notably Jamie Carragher describing the defender as having a “nightmare”. The penalty he conceded at Elland Road only intensified the conversation around his form. Yet at the San Siro, the 26-year-old delivered a performance that blended composure, physical authority and renewed concentration.
Konate Responds with Authority
A disallowed first-half goal, chalked off after VAR deemed Hugo Ekitike guilty of a harsh handball, might have derailed Konate’s evening. Instead, he responded with the kind of command at centre-back that Liverpool have been hoping to see with greater regularity.
Reviewing the match for The Athletic, Pearce observed: “Konate has been lucky to keep his place in the team, given the alarming errors he has made in recent months, but he hardly put a foot wrong alongside Virgil van Dijk.”
This was not an empty compliment. Inter’s main attacking threat, Lautaro Martínez, saw openings limited to a single notable moment. As Pearce wrote: “Inter’s top goal threat, Lautaro Martinez, had only one opportunity, when he darted ahead of Van Dijk, but his header was pushed away by Alisson.”
Arne Slot reinforced the point post-match, highlighting the defender’s “very good game” and making clear his satisfaction at the renewed stability Konate offered.
Metrics Reinforce the Improvement
Konate’s numbers from Milan underline why the narrative around him was so markedly different last night. According to Sofascore, he won four of six duels, completed 90% of his passes, made three clearances and one interception, and found a teammate with five of his eight attempted long passes. His dribbling success rate stood at 100%, further demonstrating a level of confidence that has too often been missing this season.
The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle awarded the Frenchman a 7/10 and described his contribution as a “dominant display”, a sentiment reflected across supporter reaction and analytical breakdowns.
Consistency Becomes Konate’s Next Test
The challenge now is not whether Konate can perform at this level – he has shown repeatedly over his Liverpool career that he is capable of nights like these – but whether he can sustain it. His partnership with Virgil van Dijk was a cornerstone of last season’s Premier League title triumph, built on resilience, anticipation and physical presence.
Pearce’s praise was more than a nod to a single match; it was a reminder of the standard Konate must meet to re-establish himself as a reliable force in Slot’s defensive structure. A performance that “hardly put a foot wrong” provides a platform. What Liverpool need now is a run of displays that rebuilds trust, sharpens rhythm and restores him to the level that once made him untouchable in this team.
